IO Islamic 1256

FIRDAWSI: ‘SHAHNAMA’

(Tipu MS)

Ethé 868

Fine and probably original binding (rebacked) of black leather with sunk gilt panels and medallions of floral designs. Doublures dark red with fine gold cut-out work on blue and green. 43 by 27 cm. 622 ff. Good ‘nasta‘liq’ in 4 columns of 25 lines to the page. Written surface 25 by 15 cm. Ff.1b and 2a are gorgeously illuminated as a double title-page; ff. 2b and 3a (Preface) have an illuminated heading and fully illuminated margins; ff. 332b, 333a have an illuminated heading and decorated margins. All these are of superb quality. The colophon onf.622a has been obliterated and painted over with gold.

The 28 miniatures are on the whole very good examples of the Isfahan style. They appear to be the work of several different painters, and it is not impossible that some of the best ones may be the work of the young Mu‘in. All seem to be closely modelled on the work of Riza-i ‘Abbasi, and to date from about 1630-40:

‘VAM 1951’ No. 118; ‘VAM’ 1952 Pl. 27, 28; ‘Stchoukine SA’ p. 147, Pl. L.

f.13a Gayumarth and his court (‘W.’ I.118). Landscape half pale, half dark green, with rocky horizon, and blue sky mottled with 'naturalistic' white clouds: eleven figures altogether. 25 by 15 cm.

f.29a The murder of Iraj by his brothers Tur and Salm ‘(W.’ I.201). Mauve landscape with stream (a bit smudged), rocky horizon and foreground, and gold sky. 25 by 15 cm (plus part of tree in upper margin).

f.42b Rudaba on the roof of her palace with two maids, lets one of her ringlets down to Zal, who presses it to his cheek (‘W.’ I.271). He is attended by a youth carrying his bow. Highly decorated palace, left, mauve landscape with large tree, and blue sky with 'naturalistic' white clouds. 25 by 15 cm (plus parts of trees in upper and outer margins).

f.52b The birth of Rustam (‘W.’ I.322). Rudaba reclining, eyes half-closed, surrounded by her maids, one of whom receives the enormous child. Zal and a physician seated in the foreground. Interior with draped curtains. 30 by 15 cm.

f.57b Rustam lifting Qulun above his head during his campaign against the fortress of Mount Sapand (‘W.’ I.386). Pale green landscape with horizon of feathery rocks behind which warriors appear. Rustam is represented on foot, the horses being placed symmetrically on either side. 30 by 22 cm.

f.70b Rustam lifts Afrasiyab from the saddle ‘(W.’ II.14). Pale ground with rocky horizon and sky of light and dark blue. 30 by 19 cm.

f.79a Rustam kills the White Demon in his cave (‘W.’ II.60). Gold sky, large tree to which Awlad is tied, and a mass of variegated rocks round the cave, full of human and animal faces. What may have been a small signature in the lower margin has been effectively obliterated. 33 by 22 cm.

f.102b Rustam mourning the dying Suhrab (‘W.’ II.175). Pale ground, rocky horizon and stream in foreground: large central tree. A highly symmetrical composition. 23 by 15 cm.

‘ VAM 1952’ pl. 27.

f.120b Prince Siyawush at the court of Afrasiyab (‘W.’ II.262). Trees and two curiously European looking minarets in the upper margin. 33 by 19 cm.

f.138b Afrasiyab reproving Siyawush (‘W.’ II.313). The throne is set out-of-doors in a landscape partly pale mauve and partly dark green: more faces in the rocks on the horizon. 30 by 21 cm.

f.150b Kay Khusraw, his mother Firangis and Giw fording the jihun, watched by the ferryman and his crew in their boat (‘W.’ II.392). A group of rather un-Persian looking buildings on the bank. The boat and its crew have been considerably diminished in perspective. 25 by 15 cm (plus small banner in the margin).

f.175b Ruhham cuts ofF the Sorcerer's arm ‘(W.’ III.129). Rocky landscape: Ruhham's black horse standing below. 29 by 18 cm.

f.186a Rustam shoots Ashkabus and his horse ‘(W.’ III.181). Rocky landscape and horizon lined with troops. 29 by 23 cm.

f.189a Rustam catching the horse of Chingish by the tail ‘(W.’ III.195). Pale green ground, gold sky. The eyes of the two principal figures have been touched up, and the page has been torn and repaired. 28.5 by 22 cm.

f.196b Rustam dragging the Khaqan from his white elephant ‘(W.’ III.930). The elephant is delineated in a very careful and rather comical manner. 30 by 19 cm.

f.207a Rustam striking the demon Akwan on the head with his mace ‘(W.’ III.281). Rocky landscape and gold key. 31 by 15 cm.

f.220b The rescue of Bizhan ‘(W.’ III.346). Bizhan shown in a circular pit against a dark green background below: Rustam above, letting down the rope, and Manizha crouching by the fire. Rustam's seven warriors are ranged down the left-hand side of the composition. 31 by 15 cm.

‘ VAM 1952’ pl. 98.

f.233b Single combat of Rustam and his grandson Barzu (‘A.’225). Gold sky, rocky horizon lined with warriors, and stream in the foreground. Rustam is shown receiving on his shield a heavy blow from Barzu's mace aimed at his head. 28 by 20 cm.

f.276b Bizhan cutting the throat of Human ‘(W.’ IV.50). Mauve ground, blue sky with white clouds; the horses placed symmetrically on either side. 25.5 by 15 cm.

f.321b Execution of Afrasiyab and Garsiwaz by Kay Khusraw ‘(W.’ IV.268). Mauve ground, gold sky. 30 by 20 cm.

f.361b Isfandiyar killing the dragon ‘(W.’ V.127). He is shown on foot, and his 'armoured car' has been reduced to a plain black chest in the lower right-hand corner. Gold sky, rosy mauve ground. 28 by 15 cm.

f.384b Rustam shoots Isfandiyar in the eyes with the forked arrow ‘(W.’ V.243). A rather stiff. and lifeless representation. Mauve ground, blue and white sky. 28 by 15 cm.

f.421b Iskandar sending a letter to the Indian King Fur ‘(W.’ VI.98). He is enthroned under draped curtains, whilst a vizier hands the letter to a messenger: several other courtiers, one holding a large blue and white jug. 30 by 15 cm.

f.460b Bahram Gur seated on the throne after winning the crown from between the two lions ‘(W.’ VI.410). He is surrounded by a number of figures, and the dead lions occupy the foreground. 28 by 19 cm.

f.496a The execution of Mazdak before Nushirwan ‘(W.’ VII.209). The arch-heretic and communist has been hoisted on a gallows by his feet and is being shot full of arrows. 27 by 19 cm.

f.529a The battle between Gaw and Talhand ‘(W.’ VII.416), the latter shown fainting on his elephant, which is executed in the same careful manner as the one in f.196b. 29 by 18 cm.

f.552a Battle in a walled garden between Bahram Chubina and Parmuda, son of Sawa the Turk ‘(W.’ VIII.136). The two principal combatants have fully caparisoned horses. 28 by 16 cm.

f.580b Single combat between Bahram Chubina and Kut the Roman ‘(W.’ VIII.290). 28 by 18 cm.